A video-enhanced lesson plan
Fourth grade English Language Arts:
Lesson Title: CREATING the Main Idea!
Introduction: Students will be researching what is referred to by "main idea" using video resources provided by the teacher & synthesizing that information with the main idea of the book of their choice for the month, to create a video demonstrating their understanding.
Objectives: Students will be able to:
Timeline: Please allow five 45 minute working periods adjusting based on students as needed, please inform students beforehand if changes to the timeline are being made, to allow them ample time to create their video.
Materials:
References:
Introduction: Students will be researching what is referred to by "main idea" using video resources provided by the teacher & synthesizing that information with the main idea of the book of their choice for the month, to create a video demonstrating their understanding.
Objectives: Students will be able to:
- Refer to evidence from research to support their analysis of main idea
- Refer to details & examples to determine the main idea of a text
- Create an informative video with text to convey the meaning of main idea & the main idea of their text
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Timeline: Please allow five 45 minute working periods adjusting based on students as needed, please inform students beforehand if changes to the timeline are being made, to allow them ample time to create their video.
Materials:
- Book (previously read)
- Laptops/Desktops (for all students using either computer lab or mobile lab)
- Smart Board to watch the following videos:
- Main Idea Song
- Introduction to Reading Skills: Identifying Main Idea & Supporting Details
- BrainPOP Main Idea
- Powtoon Tutorial
- Access to the Internet (Powtoon)
- Powtoon Student Accounts (previously created)
- Small Groups (discussing main idea)
- Whole Group (watching videos in classroom via SmartBoard)
- Small Groups (discussing videos)
- Individual (all students at computers at computer lab or mobile lab)
- Whole Group (presenting student-made videos)
- ensure students have read their books
- watched videos listed above
- familiarized themselves with Powtoon (having showed Powtoon videos previously is a PLUS!)
- book computer lab or mobile lab
- purchased & created student accounts for Powtoon
- Engage: (5 minutes) To begin, ask students to share with their group what they believe teachers refer to when they say "main idea" when speaking about books/movies.
- Explore: (~12minutes) Show students the first three videos listed above, videos do not need to be shown in a particular order. For your convenience all the videos for this lesson have been put into a recommended order on a playlist found here.
- (8 minutes) Have students discuss with their group what "main idea" is & what the main idea is of their book.
- Explain: (5 minutes) Ask students how difficult it was to explain "main idea" verbally. Ask them to share with the class why they believe this was so difficult? Tell students that this week they will have the opportunity to utilize a tool that will facilitate the process of explaining the main idea of their book & demonstrate their understanding of main idea.
- Elaborate: (5 minutes) Tell students they will be using Powtoon (a video creation tool) to create a video that shows what the main idea of their book is & hence demonstrates that they understand what "main idea" is. Show students the Powtoon tutorial (the last video in the playlist). Pause the video after the first two step to allow students to talk to their group prompt them by asking
- What is the main theme of our videos? Target Audience?
- What will be the points you want to cover?
- (10 minutes) Tell students that step #3 was a very important step, making a plan! Have students make a quick plan of how they would like to create their video. Remind them that this is a rough draft/plan and can always change! It just will help them get going when video creation time comes! Give students ~10 silent minutes to create their plan.
- Assessment: (4-45 minute periods) Students will create their video using Powtoon. Powtoon is very user-friendly & students will easily be able to figure it out. Encourage them to try new things & before asking how to do something to allow for exploration. However, the teacher should be familiar with the program to help if needed.
- Presentation: Consider having students showcase their videos to the class, school, or parents. A good way to have students showcase is to have 5 students presentations playing on laptops in a classroom with the creator standing next to it. The other students can walk around the room in groups & watch the videos and ask questions or provide compliments.
References: